§ Mr. Peter Bottomley (Woolwich, West)I beg to move,
That leave be given to bring in a Bill to establish a pre-emptive option for tenants or leaseholders to purchase their residential property when offered for sale by the freeholders; and for connected purposes.I have entitled the measure the Tenant and Leasehold Protection Bill in part to follow the example that you, Mr. Speaker, set some years ago. Freeholders often sell properties occupied by tenants or leaseholders and do not inform the tenants or leaseholders that the sale is about to take place. I do not understand why they do not tell them, because tenants and leaseholders are likely to offer as much as, if not more than, other potential purchasers of investment property.The Bill requires a freeholder who intends to sell to inform the residents of the property, whether it is an individual house or flat, a block or a cottage estate, as in my constituency.
Secondly, the Bill provides for the tenant or leaseholder to take over, at the price agreed, the purchase of the property in which he is living. For example, if the owner of a property sells at a certain price during a specified time the tenant or leaseholder can pre-empt the sale and buy at the same price.
No extra Government expenditure is involved, and there will be no loss to the freeholder. The two provisions will help to extend freedom of choice by providing information and the opportunity for a pre-emptive option. The connected
§ purposes of the Bill cover more information that freeholders should make available to tenants and leaseholders about service charges, and so on. The two essential parts of the Bill provide for notice to be given to the tenants and leaseholders when a sale is about to take place and for the establishment of a preemptive option to take over a purchase.
3.34 pm§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennett (Stockport, North)I rise to oppose the Bill, for three reasons. I am not against the idea in principle, but it is undesirable that a motion such as this should be introduced so soon after the Housing Bill was presented. The provisions could have been included in that Bill and they would have had a chance of being accepted.
The Ten-Minute Bill procedure is useful, because hon. Members can raise an issue and the House can express an opinion. However, it often happens that an issue is raised, the House approves it unanimously, and the Whips quietly oppose it on a Friday. It is important that hon. Members should have an opportunity to express a view. One of my hon. Friends is prepared to act as a Teller so that we can discover how many hon. Members are in favour of the Bill. I hope that that will ensure that the Government take notice of it. My third reason for opposing the Bill is that on such a day as this it is useful to have a roll call of hon. Members.
§ Question put, pursuant to Standing Order No. 13 (Motions for leave to bring in Bills and nomination of Select Committees at commencement of public business):—
§ The House divided: Ayes 144, Noes 3.
1427| Division No. 334] | AYES | [3.34 pm |
| Adley, Robert | Dalyeil, Tarn | Flannery, Martin |
| Allaun, Frank | Davies, Rt Hon Denzll (Llanelli) | Fookes, Miss Janet |
| Archer, Rt Hon Peter | Davis, Terry (B'rm'ham, Stechford) | Foot, Rt Hon Michael |
| Aspinwall, Jack | Dean, Joseph (Leeds West) | Forrester, John |
| Baker, Nicholas (North Dorset) | Dixon, Donald | Foster, Derek |
| Beith, A. J. | Dormand, Jack | Garel-Jones, Tristan |
| Benyon, Thomas (Abingdon) | Douglas-Mann, Bruce | Garrett, John (Norwich S) |
| Blackburn, John | Dubs, Alfred | Gower, Sir Raymond |
| Bottomley, Rt Hon Arthur (M'brough) | Dunn, James A. (Liverpool, Kirkdale) | Graham, Ted |
| Bray, Dr Jeremy | Dunn, Robert (Dartford) | Grant, George (Morpeth) |
| Buchan, Norman | Durant, Tony | Greenway, Harry |
| Butcher, John | Dykes, Hugh | Grimond, Rt Hon J. |
| Cadbury, Jocelyn | Eastham, Ken | Hamilton, James (Bothwell) |
| Callaghan, Jim (Middleton & P) | English, Michael | Hamilton, W. W. (Central Fife) |
| Campbell-Savours, Dale | Evans, loan (Aberdare) | Harrison, Rt Hon Walter |
| Canavan, Dennis | Evans, John (Newton) | Haynes, Frank |
| Carter-Jones, Lewis | Ewing, Harry | Heddle, John |
| Coleman, Donald | Faith, Mrs Shella | Hogg, Norman (E Dunbartonshire) |
| Costain, A. P. | Fell, Anthony | Hooley, Frank |
| Cunningham, George (Islington S) | Field, Frank | Horam, John |
| Howells, Geraint | Morgan, Geraint | Spriggs, Leslie |
| Hughes, Roy (Newport) | Morris, Rt Hon Charles (Openshaw) | Sproat, lain |
| Hunt, John (Ravensbourne) | Needham, Richard | Stallard, A. W. |
| Jay, Rt Hon Douglas | Newens, Stanley | Steel, Rt Hon David |
| John, Brynmor | Ogden, Eric | Steen, Anthony |
| Johnson, James (Hull West) | O'Neill, Martin | Strang, Gavin |
| Jones, Rt Hon Alec (Rhondda) | Palmer, Arthur | Straw, Jack |
| Jones, Barry (East Flint) | Patlen, Christopher (Bath) | Summerskill, Hon Dr Shirley |
| Jones, Dan (Burnley) | Pawsey, James | Temple-Morris, Peter |
| Kaufman, Rt Hon Gerald | Prescott, John | Thornton, Malcolm |
| Kerr, Russell | Price, Christopher (Lewisham West) | Tiiley, John |
| Lennox-Boyd, Hon Mark | Race, Reg | Varley, Rt Kon Eric G. |
| Lewis, Ron (Carlisle) | Renton, Tim | Wainwright, Edwin (Dearne Valley) |
| Litherland, Robert | Roberts, Gwilym (Cannock) | Watkins, David |
| Loveridge, John | Robertson, George | Welsh, Michael |
| McCrindle, Robert | Robinson, Geoffrey (Coventry NW) | White, Frank R. (Bury & Radcliffe) |
| McDonald, Dr Oonagh | Ross, Ernest (Dundee West) | Whitehead, Phillip |
| McKay, Allen (Penistone) | Ross, Stephen (Isle of Wight) | Wigley, Dafydd |
| McKelvey, William | St. John-Stevas, Rt Hon Norman | Willey, Rt Hon Frederick |
| McOuarrie, Albert | Sever, John | Williams, Rt Hon Alan (Swansea W) |
| Major, John | Eheorman, Barry | Wilson, William (Coventry SE) |
| Marlow, Tony | Shersby, Michael | Winnick, David |
| Marshall, David (Gl'sgow, Shettles'n) | Silverman, Julius | Winterton, Nicholas |
| Marshall, Dr Edmund (Goole) | Skeet, T. H. H | Woolmer, Kenneth |
| Mawhinney, Dr Brian | Skinner, Dennis | Young, David (Bolton East) |
| Maxweil-Hysiop, Robin | Smith, Rt Hon J. (North Lanarkshire) | |
| Mitchell, R. C. (Soton, Itchen) | Soley, Clive | TELLERS FOR THE AYES: |
| Maynard, Miss Joan | Spearing, Nigel | Mr. Peter Bottomley and |
| Mills, lain (Meriden) | Speller, Tony | Sir Brandon Rhys Williams. |
| Molyneaux, James | ||
| NOES | ||
| Alexander, Richard | ||
| Brinton, Tim | ||
| Powell, Rt Hon J. Enoch (S Down) | ||
| TELLERS FOR THE NOES: | ||
| Mr. Bob Cryer and | ||
| Mr. Andrew F. Bennett. |
§ Question accordingly agreed to.
§ Mr. Gerald Kaufman (Manchester, Ardwick)On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Now that the House has expressed its wish on this matter in so overwhelming a way, when will the Government provide time for the legislation?
§ Mr. SpeakerIt is a very good question, but it cannot be answered now because it is not a point of order.
Bill ordered to be brought in by Mr. Peter Bottomley, Sir Brandon Rhys Williams, Mr. John Major, Mr. Tony 1428 Durant, Mr. John Heddle and Mr. Michael Shersby.
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- TENANT AND LEASEHOLD PROTECTION 58 words